·
2.2
million Chinese tourists will travel to GCC in 2023 with CAGR growth of 4.8%
·
Total Chinese tourism spend in
GCC estimated to reach US$3.48 billion by 2023
The
number of Chinese tourists travelling to the GCC is expected to increase 54%
from 1.4 million in 2018 to 2.2 million in 2023, growing at a Compound Annual
Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8%, according to data published ahead of Arabian
Travel Market (ATM) 2020.
As
destinations from across the globe prepare to showcase their latest offering at
ATM 2020, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre from Sunday 19 –
Wednesday 22 April 2020, Colliers International predicts China will maintain
its position as a top source market across the GCC, particularly in the UAE,
where Chinese visitors are currently the second and fourth highest ranked
source markets for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, respectively.
Adding
to this, the data predicts the UAE will continue to be the preferred GCC
destination for Chinese tourists, welcoming a projected 1.9 million visitors by
2023. Saudi Arabia will follow with 1 million visitors, while Oman will welcome
76,900, Bahrain 26,300 and Kuwait 2,800.
Danielle Curtis,
Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “China’s links with the
GCC have strengthened in recent years due to the introduction of additional and
direct airline routes; relaxed visa regulations; the strong growth of the
Chinese economy and Chinese tourists’ increasing disposable income.
“The
recent influx in Chinese visitors to the GCC shows no sign of abating as we
look ahead to 2023 and beyond – owing largely to the many business and
investment opportunities that the region presents, as well as a new generation
of leisure attractions and retail destinations.
“Keen
to capitalise on this growing potential, figures from ATM 2019 show more than
100% increase in Chinese visitor attendance as well as 15% increase YoY between
2018 and 2019, in the number of delegates, exhibitors and attendees interested
in doing business with China”
Chinese
tourists are the world’s highest spenders while travelling abroad, with total
outbound travel and tourism expenditure reaching US$277 billion in 2018,
according to the Colliers data.
